Nathan E. Lewis

Nathan is currently writing a sequel to “The Shack,” called “The Shed,” to fill out the divine character and works a bit.

Undoubtedly I am coming lately to Free Rice. Go to this website, take the vocabulary tests, a fun game, and for each correct answer, you will not only build your vocabulary but you will also donate 20 grains of free rice towards feeding the hungry people of the world. The website makes money through sponsors advertising, enough to keep up with the millions of grains of rice earned by the players. Personally, I am not satisfied with my English vocabulary and so I am looking for ways to increase my word power and skills. This site is helpful (not as helpful as reading good literature) but nevertheless, helpful. To make matters better, I can also donate rice toward eradicating the world of malnutrition. All of this occurs without me laying out any money and through my small investment of time, whatever time I decide to dedicate to the increase of my vocabulary.

Chase Hansen, member of our church is at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, playing water polo, studying Russian, and wearing Plebe issued glasses. Keep abreast of his experiences through the blog his mother, Jodi, has set up.

You may not appreciate my satirical sentiments, but I am hoping that I will at least get you to read the Declaration of Independence and be thankful for God’s gracious reception of us rebel freedom fighters. As you read, keep echoing in your mind and heart, “America, America, God shed his grace on thee…”

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

(And so it is “separation” that birthed the greatest nation in history, who calls the world to unite, who has overused the rhetoric of “one world empire,” of lights and hands joining everyone together in peace and harmony.)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

(Yes, all human beings are created equal. How quickly has every American institution built class order in opposition to this founding pillar of our nation! Even the Church!) Continue reading »

At the recent Reformed Youth Movement Camp 2008 at Suttle Lake, Oregon, Pacific Northwest youth groups were joined by a youth group from Heritage PCA in Oklahoma City. The Youth Director, Nathan Carr, and his wife, Sarah, accompanied about 12 students. These teens noticed that one of the campers from Evergreen PCA in Beaverton, Paul, was autistic, walking around camp talking to himself, in his own little world. They reached out to him, engaging him in conversation to learn of his interest in making movies with his video camera. He told them that he one ready to shoot and they agreed to be his cast. Other campers joined in and soon Paul was directing over 20 teens. The campers wrote down their lines and took their cues from Paul. I have known Paul since his birth and have taken a special interest in him. There are few times in his life (limited to my observation) when I have seen him so happy and engaged. He was in his element. My estimation of the Oklahoma teens is high to say the least. Continue reading »

Overture 9 from Philadelphia Presbytery requested the 36th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America to create a committee to study the “Scriptural teaching bearing on women’s eligibility for election and ordination to the office of deacon.” Overture 15 from Western Canada makes the same request. Overture 17 from Rocky Mountain Presbytery asks that if a study committee is erected that its mandate also include providing parameters for the role of women in the church. The Bills and Overture Committee after 5.5 hours of discussion recommended that the Assembly deny these requests. A minority report was formed in the committee and signed by 26 committee members including Dr. Bryan Chapell, President of Covenant Seminary, who represented the minority on the floor of the Assembly.
Dr. Philip Ryken, Pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (successor of Dr. James Boice) with his Session and congregation, are among those who initiated the conversation in the Philadelphia Presbytery resulting in Overture 9. Floor debate produced mostly divided votes and exposed the fear of the Assembly, and perhaps the entire denomination, of a slippery slope. The PCA’s history of departing from the PCUSA to form a new national church 36 years ago over several issues including the ordination of women may have been more influential in squelching the request than a careful argument arising from the biblical text. Continue reading »

Click on the Photo to view nine families around the world complete with a listing of what they eat in a week and how much it costs them. When I was a child our family sang the following prayer at the dinner table: “For health and strength and daily food we give you thanks, O Lord.” With rising food costs at home and around the world, I am grateful for the food God has provided. Perhaps 2008 is a perfect opportunity for us to rethink how much we eat; what we eat; and the amount we are willing to pay for what we eat. Are any of you readers willing to tell us what you/your family spends on groceries in one week? Perhaps you don’t know. If you don’t know, then I would encourage you to keep record.

This past week, I joined the Order of the Stout Monks, meeting with five other men outside of Kelowna BC, near the Gray Monk Winery, to pray for each other, to hold one another accountable in personal behavior, to coach on strategic ministry ideas and plans, and to encourage each other with the word of God. Men, even those working as ministers of the gospel, need life-long friendship, encouraging support, and accountability in holiness and grace. The Stout Monks are committed to meet once annually for at least the next decade toward these ends. The name of the order, “The Stout Monks,” is taken from the legendary addition to the Rule of St. Benedict: “If any pilgrim shall come from distant parts with wish to dwell in the monastery, and will be content with the customs of the place, and does not by his lavishness disturb the monastery but is simply content, he shall be received for as long as he wishes. If, indeed, he shall find fault with anything, and shall expose the matter reasonably and with the humility of charity, the Abbott shall discuss it with him prudently lest perchance God hath sent him for this very thing. But, if he shall have been found contumacious during his sojourn in the monastery, then it shall be said to him, firmly, that he must depart. If he will not go, let two stout monks, in the name of God, explain the matter to him.” Continue reading »

The night prior to his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. preached, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” (Listen to and watch this clip of this historic moment.) Undeniably, he was one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century in regard to rhetoric and in regard to speaking prophetically into the present moment/context. Little in this world is more beautiful or moving than a person who confidently fulfills his calling, knowing his place in history and his contribution to society. King was such a person. You can see it in his eyes as he preaches. You can hear it in his voice. The rhetoric is connected to a passionate calling and a timely message. Technically, King delivered a speech the night before his death. (Read the entire script.) Only the final paragraph is sermonic in form revealing King’s original and abiding vocation as an ordained minister of the gospel. Most of us know the words of his speeches rather than the sermons he preached at his home congregation, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Nevertheless, when King delivered a speech, everyone discovered in a few minutes that he was indeed a preacher, not a lecturer, a politician or an entertainer. Continue reading »

NPR has reminded us of the deep influence of Hawthorne’s story on American sociology in the article, “Hester Prynne: Sinner, Victim, Object, Winner.” For any of us who are members of the Church we must go beyond sociology to ask the question, “Would Hester be welcome in our community of faith? Have we learned from Hawthorne’s scathing presentation of hypocrisy?” Several months ago a single woman confided in me, “The Church is not a safe place for me and for many others who are broken and complicated.” Continue reading »